224 GARUDA PURANAM.

without the customary admixture of sesamum with them.
O Vyasa, such cakes should be duly offered at Gaya to the
souls of one's all departed cognates, agnates and ancestors
in the direct line of succession! as well as to their friends
and relations.

By performing a ceremonial ablution in the sacred pool
of Rama-Tirtham, a man acquires the merit of making a
gift of a hundred cows at a time. A similar ablution in the
lake of Matanga, is sure to enhance that merit ten-fold. The
man who bathes at the confluence of the sacred Nishchira,
leads his departed manes to the region of Brahma. By
bathing at the hermitage of Vashista, the bother acquires
the merit of performing a Vajapeya sacrifice. A residence
near the sacred stream of Koushika ensures the merit of
performing a Horse-Sacrifice. The hallowed fountain of
Agnidhara rises from the lake sacred to the grandfather of
the gods, and is usually known as the Kapila. The man
who performs a Shraddha ceremony at or near this sacred
stream, acquires the merit of performing an Agnisthoma
sacrifice. By performing a similar ceremony near the foun-
tain, sacred to the god Kumara, a man is sure to acquire
the merit of performing a Horse-Sacrifice, whereas a visit
to his divine image at the adjoining shrine, leads to
the emancipation of one's self. An ablution in the sacred
fount of the moon god, ensures one's residence in the
region of that divinity ^fter death. The man who offers
an obsequious cake to his manes on the banks of the pool
Sacred to that god leads them to the region of Brahma.